Such is Jens Lehmann's penchant for theatre it required a pitch battle at the end to knock the Arsenal goalkeeper off top billing. But for the punches and kicks traded by Argentina and Germany after an excruciating penalty shoot-out that Jürgen Klinsmann said was "like a Hitchcock movie", and which was won 4-2 by the hosts, the strongest spotlight would have been on Lehmann and not just for the decisive saves he made from Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso.

Immediately prior to the shoot-out, as both camps tried to rouse players wearied by 120 minutes of intense if sometimes attritional football, Lehmann moved centre stage when his great and often bitter rival Oliver Kahn made his way towards him.

What happened next was captured by a TV camera and broadcast over the two giant screens in an enthralled stadium: Kahn extended the hand of friendship and Lehmann took it. This was a first-ever public handshake between the two men and the German majority among the 72,000 let out a collective "Ooh".

Lehmann, who had been beaten by Ayala in the 49th minute but who was otherwise a spectator for large sections of the two hours, watched as Oliver Neuville made it 1-0 and Julio Cruz equalised. Michael Ballack, injured at around the time of Miroslav Klose's real-time equaliser, then made it 2-1.

Then came Ayala and while his shot was true, Lehmann guessed right and stopped it. It was advantage Germany and they were not to lose it. Lukas Podolski made it 3-1 and though Maxi Rodriguez silenced the ground to leave it 3-2, Tim Borowski drilled in Germany's fourth. He then indicated that the sledging Argentinians should shut up.

As Borowski did so, Cambiasso trudged forward knowing that he had to score to maintain their participation. He had scored what is likely to be the goal of the tournament in the 6-0 rout of Serbia & Montenegro but he was unable to beat Lehmann, who dived low to his left.

This prompted delirium - and a scrap - but few words from Lehmann afterwards. His relationship with Kahn went unmentioned though Lehmann did recall his own last-minute penalty save that denied Juan Roman Riquelme in the Arsenal-Villarreal European Cup semi-final second leg. It was Klinsmann who was lyrical. "As a former striker, I wouldn't want to face him if I was taking a penalty," he said. "He has a feeling for where the penalty-taker is going to shoot. And he showed that again today. He saved two and that's why we're in the semi-final."

Italy will be the opposition in Dortmund on Tuesday and given that the scene of their victory over Poland has become Germany's favourite stadium, that and the hosts' momentum will mean many now think they are unstoppable.

There was recognition from Ballack and others that Germany have played better but what they proved for the first time is that they can recover. When Ayala butted in Riquelme's corner four minutes after a cautious first half, it was the first time in the tournament that Germany had fallen behind. Before Ayala only Paulo Wanchope had beaten Lehmann.

Throwing off the restraint they had shown, Germany now had to chase the game and reverted to the high-tempo style Klinsmann has introduced. The effect was felt quickly with Ballack almost scoring from a 64th-minute corner. During that incident Argentina's Roberto Abbondanzieri accidentally collided with Klose and seven minutes later the keeper had to depart on a stretcher.

It was the beginning of a flurry of substitutions and those of the Argentina coach Jose Pekerman were to be questioned. With the score still at 1-0 Riquelme was withdrawn for Cambiasso. Pekerman was sacrificing creativity for resilience and while there was logic to that, it felt unnecessary. Riquelme had not been able to impose himself on the game but he was Argentina's key player.

Pekerman could argue that Riquelme was being constantly harried by Torsten Frings, Germany's most influential contributor, and can be thankful for a lenient referee. On one yellow card, Frings would miss the semi-final had Lubos Michel been as diligent as some of his colleagues.

One of the few moves Frings was not central to was the one that brought Klose's goal. In bringing on David Odonkor and Borowski, Klinsmann had gambled on youth and it worked: Odonkor pinned back Juan Pablo Sorin and Borowski got a flick to a cross from Ballack.

Borowski's touch took the ball to the oncoming Klose who knocked an emphatic header beyond Leonardo Franco. Klose is famous for his heading ability but this was his first for Germany for three years. His timing is as good as Lehmann's.

That meant extra-time and then penalties. Pekerman's reaction to elimination was to resign and his Argentina team are destined to occupy a place akin to Brazil's in 1982. As for Germany's destiny. . .